Endless path means for storing articles

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to storing means for automobiles, comprising, a vertical structure in which a number of cars may be housed in stalls which are mounted in the structure one above the other. The structure is provided with two pairs of a group of four vertical link chain mechanisms. One group of four link chains are operable to move upwardly, and the other set in the group to move downwardly. Also there is a mechanism which at the bottom of the housing may transfer the stored cars from the chain that moves downwardly to the chain that moves upwardly. Also a mechanism at the upper end of the housing that will transfer the cars from the chain that moves upwardly to the chain that moves downwardly. Thus it is possible to circulate the stored cars in a closed shuttle. At the lower end of the housing a car may be driven through a door into an empty stall for parking or a car may be driven off the lower stall. The operation of the upwardly and downwardly moving group of chains and the stall transfering mechanisms are being operable in timed relationship with one another and are being controlled by the car driver by simply depressing a button in a control panel.

United States Patent [72] lnventor Joseph Bosco 33 Summer St., Everett, Mass. 02149 [21 I Appl. No 790,786 [22] Filed Jan. 13, 1969 [45] Patented June 1,1971

[54] ENDLESS PATH MEANS FOR STORING ARTICLES 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 1. 2l4/l6.lB, 187/16 [51] Int. Cl E04h 6/06 [50] Field of Search 187/16; 214/16.12,16.14,16.14C-E [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,852,633 4/1932 Ziebarth 214/16.1(4-E) 2,837,224 6/1958 Rosen 214/16.1(4-E) 3,032,212 5/1962 Gaskin etal... 214/16.1(4-E) 3,034,666 5/1962 O'Neill 214/16.1(2) FOREIGN PATENTS 78,625 9/1960 France 214/16.1(2)

584,418 10/1958 Italy ABSTRACT: The present invention relates to storing means for automobiles, comprising, a vertical structure in which a number of cars may be housed in stalls which are mounted in the structure one above the other. The structure is provided with two pairs of a group of four vertical link chain mechanisms. One group of four link chains are operable to move upwardly, and the other set in the group to move downwardly. Also there is a mechanism which at the bottom of the housing may transfer the stored cars from the chain that moves downwardly to the chain that moves upwardly. Also a mechanism at the upper end of the housing that will transfer the cars from the chain that moves upwardly to the chain that moves downwardly. Thus it is possible to circulate the stored cars in a closed shuttle. At the lower end of the housing a car may be driven through a door into an empty stall for parking or a car may be driven off the lower stall. The operation of the upwardly and downwardly moving group of chains and the stall transfering mechanisms are being operable in timed relationship with one another and are being controlled by the car driver by simply depressing a button in a control panel.

ENDLESS PATH MEANS FOR STORING ARTICLES The present invention relates to means for storing automobiles, and more particularly it relates to vertical storage means wherein a number of car stalls are mounted one above the other, and are being moved laterally to load or to discharge a parked automobile through the medium of a vertically operable conveyor link chain.

The present invention and its mode of storing cars is rather for limited use and is better suited for small apartments and office buildings. The embodiment of the present invention comprises a unit of elongated shape, and works on the method of an elevator. There is a stall provided for every car parked.

Accordingly the main object of the present invention is to provide a parking system consisting of a group of parking stalls which may be mounted one above the other in vertical rows within a vertical structure, and means for moving said stalls vertically to facilitate storing of automobiles into said parking system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide rows of vertically mounted link chain units, with the car stalls located between a pair of such units, means for securing each individual car stall independently to each pair of link chain units, and means for raising and lowering said car stalls.

A further object of the present invention is to provide gearoperable meansto operate said securing mechanism for loading said car stalls to a pair of link chain units.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and the combination and arrangement of several parts to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, references will be had to the accompanying drawings where like character numerals denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the vertical parking means partially broken away to disclose its mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of FIG. 1, taken on the line 2-2, partially broken away to disclose the operating mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1, showing the gear-driven mechanism located on the roof of a stall and which secures a stall to the link chain system. This view shows the mechanism in an operative position;

FIG. 4 is a view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1, showing the gear-driven mechanism located under the flooring of a stall, and which mounts a stall to the rail system. This view shows the mechanism in an operative position; and

FIG. 5 is a view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3, showing the connecting link between the mechanism located on the roof with the mechanism located under the floor of a stall.

It is understood that the present form of disclosure is merely for the purpose of illustration, and that there might be various modifications thereof, without departing from the spirit of the invention as herein set forth.

Referring now more particularly to the embodiment of the present invention, and more particularly to FIG. 1, which shows the best application of my parking system, it comprises, in combination, the outer walls of the vertical building which houses the parking system. Several rows of identical link chain units l2, l3, l4, l5, l6 and l7 (17 not shown) may be mounted upon the vertical structural beams l8, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 (23 not shown). The above-referred-to beam structures may be provided in pairs, one facing the other (see FIG. 3 where the beam 19 faces the beam 21), are deemed to support the specially designed mechanisms for driving and operating the chain system.

A number of stalls or cages 24 may be mounted within the chain system 11, one above another, to be supported by the link chain mechanism. These stalls or cages preferably may be formed of four vertical beam sections 25 and so constructed as to provide a rectangular housing. The latter may be provided with a floor section 26 and a ceiling section or roof 27 which are riveted to the four uprights 25, to form the stall or the cage. The automobiles (not shown) may be driven into the cage through the door opening (D) at the lower floor of the structure 10 through and over the ramp (R).

Reference being had to FIG. 3 (which is a section on the line 3-3 of FIG. I, looking down upon the roof of one of the stalls) it can be discerned that the roof 27 supports the mechanism by means of which each stall is secured to the chain system. In the center portion of the roof 27 there is provided a large bevel-type gear 28 which is mounted to rotate upon the stud shaft 29. On either corner 30, 31, 32 and 33 of the roof 27 there is mounted to hinge on the stud shafts 34, 35, 36 and 37 the large L-shaped detents 38, 39, 40 and 41, respectively. Each detent has an extension finger (x) which fits snugly into the links in the chain system and in such a fashion as to secure each stall to said system. It can be seen that each detent is furthermore provided with an extension (y) to which may be secured the elongated arms 42, 43, 44 and 45, respectively. The latter, by means of the pins (z) are held to the arm extension (y) at one end thereof, and at the other end are held upon the bevel-type gear 28 by the stud shafts (w) and (w' substantially as indicated.

There is a bevel gear 46 meshing with the teeth of the large bevel-type gear 28. The bevel gear 46 is held fast to the horizontal shaft 47 which is mounted to rotate within the bearings 48 and 49. A secondary bevel gear 50 held fast to the opposite end of the shaft 47 meshes with a secondary bevel gear 51. The latter is mounted to the vertical shaft 51 (see FIG. 5).

Referring now to FIG. 4 (which is a section on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1, showing a bottom view of the flooring 26) it can be seen the flooring is provided with a bevel-type large gear 53 which may be mounted to rotate upon the stud shaft 54. Upon the studs (four in number), (v) there may be mounted the hinging fulcrum arm extensions 59, 60, 61 and 62, respectively. It can be discerned that each comer 63, 64, 65 and 66, in the flooring 26, is provided with the elongated bearing members 67, 68, 69 and 70, which are secured to the flooring 26. Also, there are provided pins (p) which serve to secure the fulcrum arms 55, 56, 57 and 58, and pins (P) and (P') which serve to secure the arms to the bevel-type gear 53, substantially as shown.

The bearings 67 68, 69 and 70, are provided with elongated shafts 75, 76, 77 and 78, each shaft supporting a flanged wheel 79, 80, 81 and 82. A pair of rails 83 and 84 are mounted on either side of the flooring 26 and in such a manner as to clear entirely the beam supports 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23, respectively. FIG. 4 indicates the manner in which the flanged wheels 79, 80, 81 and 82 contact the rails 83 and 84 and can ride thereon. The rails 83 and 84 are held fast to the walls of the structure 10 by means of bracket supports (not shown).

It can be discerned that the bevel gear 85 is in mesh with the teeth of the gear 53 the gear 85 is held fast upon one end of the horizontal shaft 86, with the latter rotating in the bearings 87 and 88. While a similar bevel gear 89 is held fast to the opposite end of the horizontal shaft 86, substantially as shown. The bevel gear 89 meshes with the bevel gear 90 with the latter being secured to the vertical shaft 52 see FIG. 5).

When a car is driven through the entry door (D), at the street level, to be parked into one of Lhe stalls or cages 24, it will find an empty cage waiting read y for storage (see FIG. 1). With the car fully parked, the entry door (D) will close, and a mechanism will become operable to transfer the stall with the car from its original position (shown in full lines at the right) to the new position (shown in dotted lines to the left). This position or space originally has been vacant. With the car stall transfered from right to left, now the space at the right is vacant. The operation of moving a stall from right to left, at the lower end of the storage structure, is repeated at the upper end of the storage structure by means of a similarly operable mechanism which, however, operates from left to right. In this instance (see FIG. 1) the stall (shown in full lines) is moved from left to right, to the position shown (in dotted lines).

To accomplish this task, there is a transfer mechanism 91 mounted at the upper level, and a similar mechanism mounted at the street level. The mechanism 91 (and 92) consists of an endless chain 95 mounted to rotate on sprocket wheels 94 and 95. The chain 91 is moved over the roofs of the stalls and is provided with the finger extensions 96 and 97 which contact risers 98 which are mounted over the ceiling of each stall, substantially as shown. The transfer mechanism is operable by means of a motor (not shown) automatically when the entry door (D) is shut closed. As the transfer mechanism at the upper end of the structure moves a stall (shown in full lines) from the left to the right (shown in dotted lines), at the street level the mechanism 92 will move or transfer a stall (marked in full lines) from the right to the left, to the position (marked in dotted lines). Both transfer mechanisms 91 and 92 operate in unison, as above described.

From FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be discerned that the present invention primarily consists of a vertical concrete structure into which may be stored a plurality of cars, from 12 to 20 (although a greater number also may be stored). The storage mechanism is formed by a number of endless link chains help upon vertical structural beams. A number of storage stalls or cages are being supported in the system into which individual cars are driven to be stored. At the lower, street level, portion of the storage structure there is an entry of a loading door and a ramp upon which the cars are driven into the structure to be stored.

Generally speaking the chain mechanism is operable in the form of a standard elevator by means of pushbuttons. For a system with 12 parking stalls there is a panel with 12 pushbuttons, each button appropriately marked with a number (from 1 to twelve When a car is parked in one of the stalls, under the appropriate pushbutton a lamp lights up and remains lighted as long as the stall is occupied. When the car is driven off the stall, then the light goes off under the pushbutton. To park a car, one selects and presses one of the unlighted buttons. This action will start an electric motor (not shown) which drives the chain system. The motor will remain operative until an empty stall reaches the street level. Then the mechanism will stop, and the entry door (D) will open to permit the entry of a car for parking purposes. To retrieve the parked car, the driver pushes the button marked with the number of the stall in which the car is parked. The system will then deliver the automobile to the street level automatically. The shaft 47 may be provide with a super gear (S) which meshes with a gear rack (R) operable by means of a motor (not shown). The gear rack (R) operates the mechanisms mounted upon the roof and under the floor of each stall.

A careful examination of the foregoing description in conjunction with the invention as illustrated in the drawings, will enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding and impression of the alleged features of merit and novelty, sufficient to clarify the construction of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size and materials, and rearrangement of parts, may be restored to in actual practice, as long as no departure is made from the invention claimed.

lclaim:

1. A storage means for storing a plurality of automobiles in rows one above another, comprising, in combination, a vertical storage structure of rectangular cross section, mechanical means in said structure for storing automobiles in individual rectangular stalls, said stalls having a floor and a ceiling, said mechanical means comprising a group of four endless chain drives mounted vertically with one chain drive adjacent to either one comer of said rectangular stalls, said chains moving upwardly to facilitate the lifting of each stall, another group of four vertical chain drives also provided moving downwardly to facilitate the lowering of each stall, means upon the ceiling and the floor of each stall for securing the stall to said moving link chains, and means for transfering each stall from one chain group moving upwardly to the other chain group moving downwardly, said first means comprising finger detents fulcrum-arm operable to secure said stalls to the moving chains, and said transfer means having flanged wheels to facilitate moving said stalls from the upwardly moving chain drive to the downwardly moving chain drive; said means for securing the stalls to said group of link chains comprising a group of four individual finger detents fulcrum-operable studs upon which said detents are mounted to swivel, said studs being supported upon the roof of said stalls with one detent in the group mounted upon either one of the four comers upon said rectangular stall, means to operate said detents in a hinging fashion, said means including a group of four elongated arms, one end of each arm being held by a pin to one of said fulcrums, and with the other end each arm being held by a pin to a rotating disc, bevel teeth cut upon the outer diameter of said disc, a bevel gear in mesh with said bevel teeth, a shaft upon which said bevel gear is held to rotate, the operation of said shaft rotating said bevel gear and respectively said disc to operate said elongated arms so as to swivel said finger detents upon said studs for the purpose intended.

2. A storage means for storing a plurality of automobiles in rows one above the other, comprising, in combination, a vertical storage structure of rectangular cross section, mechanical means in said structure for storing automobiles in individual rectangular stalls, said stalls having a floor and a ceiling, said mechanical means comprising a group of four endless chain drives mounted vertically with one chain drive adjacent to either one comer of said rectangular stalls, said chains moving upwardly to facilitate the lifting of each stall, another group of four vertical chain drives also provided moving downwardly to facilitate the lowering of each stall, means upon the ceiling and the floor of each stall for securing the stall to said moving link chains, and means for transferring each stall from one chain group moving upwardly to the other chain group moving downwardly, said first means comprising finger detents fulcrum-arm operable to secure said stalls to the moving chains, and said transfer means having flanged wheels to facilitate moving said stalls from the upwardly moving chain drive to a downwardly moving chain drive; said means for transfering each stall from one chain group to the other, comprising a set of four flanged wheels mounted to shafts, a group of four slide bearings mounted under the floor of each rectangular stall, at each corner thereof, with one slide bearing facing outwardly and away from each corner, rails upon which said flanged wheels ride, and means for moving said four shafts simultaneously linearly to contact said rails, said means comprising a flexible coupling secured to each of said shafts, a hinging fulcrum arm fitted within each coupling, stud shafts upon which each fulcrum-arm is supported to hinge under the stall floor, and a group of four elongates arms provided to swivel said fulcrums, by means of a pin one end of each arm being held to each fulcrum and by means of another pin the opposite end of each arm being held to a rotating disc, bevel gear teeth being provided upon the outer circumference of said disc, a bevel gear in mesh with said bevel teeth, a shaft upon which said bevel gear is held to rotate, the operation of said shaft rotating said bevel gear and respectively said disc to operate said elongated arms so as to slide said shafts in said slide bearings for the purpose intended.

3. A storage means for storing a plurality of automobiles in rows one above another, comprising, in combination, a vertical storage structure of rectangular cro ts section, mechanical means in said structure for storing automobiles in individual rectangular stalls, said stalls having a floor and a ceiling said mechanical means comprising a group of four endless chain drives mounted vertically with one chain drive adjacent to either one comer of said rectangular stalls, said chains moving upwardly to facilitate the lifting of each stall, another group of four vertical chain drives also provided moving downwardly to facilitate the lowering of each stall, means upon the ceiling and the floor of each stall for securing the stall to said moving link chains, and means of transferring each stall from one chain group moving upwardly to the other chain group moving downwardly, said first means comprising finger detents fulcrum-arm operable to secure said stalls to the moving chains, and said transfer means having flanged wheels to facilitate moving said stalls from the upwardly moving chain drive to the downwardly moving chain drive; and a means for operatively connecting the mechanism lowering each stall with the mechanism raising each stall, and for transfering each stall from one link chain group to the other, bevel gear mounted to rotate on the roof and under the floor of each stall, said means comprising a vertical'shaft, said vertical shaft having means to rotate the bevel gear on the roof of each stall and the bevel flanged wheels respectively, in timed relationship to one another. 

1. A storage means for storing a plurality of automobiles in rows one above another, comprising, in combination, a vertical storage structure of rectangular cross section, mechanical means in said structure for storing automobiles in individual rectangular stalls, said stalls having a floor and a ceiling, said mechanical means comprising a group of four endless chain drives mounted vertically with one chain drive adjacent to either one corner of said rectangular stalls, said chains moving upwardly to facilitate the lifting of each stall, another group of four vertical chain drives also provided moving downwardly to facilitate the lowering of each stall, means upon the ceiling and the floor of each stall for securing the stall to said moving link chains, and means for transfering each stall from one chain group moving upwardly to the other chain group moving downwardly, said first means comprising finger detents fulcrum-arm operable to secure said stalls to the moving chains, and said transfer means having flanged wheels to facilitate moving said stalls from the upwardly moving chain drive to the downwardly moving chain drive; said means for securing the stalls to said group of link chains comprising a group of four individual finger detents fulcrum-operable studs upon which said detents are mounted to swivel, said studs being supported upon the roof of said stalls with one detent in the group mounted upon either one of the four corners upon said rectangular stall, means to operate said detents in a hinging fashion, said means including a group of four elongated arms, one end of each arm being held by a pin to one of said fulcrums, and with the other end each arm being held by a pin to a rotating disc, bevel teeth cut upon the outer diameter of said disc, a bevel gear in mesh with said bevel teeth, a shaft upon which said bevel gear is held to rotate, the operation of said shaft rotating said bevel gear and respectively said disc to operate said elongated arms so as to swivel said finger detents upon said studs for the purpose intended.
 2. A storage means for storing a plurality of automobiles in rows one above the other, comprising, in combination, a vertical storage structure of rectangular cross section, mechanical means in said structure for storing automobiles in individual rectangular stalls, said stalls having a floor and a ceiling, said mechanical means comprising a group of four endless chain drives mounted vertically with one chain drive adjacent to either one corner of said rectangular stalls, said chains moving upwardly to facilitate the lifting of each stall, another group of four vertical chain drives also provided moving downwardly to facilitate the lowering of each stall, means upon the ceiling and the floor of each stall for securing the stall to said moving link chains, and means for transferring each stall from one chain group moving upwardly to the other chain group moving downwardly, said first means comprising finger detents fulcrum-arm operable to secure said stalls to the moving chains, and said transfer means having flanged wheels to facilitate moving said stalls from the upwardly moving chain drive to a downwardly moving chain drive; said means for transfering each stall from one chain group to the other, comprising a set of four flanged wheels mounted to shafts, a group of four slide bearings mounted under the floor of each rectangular stall, at each corner thereof, with one slide bearing facing outwardly and away from each corner, rails upon which said flanged wheels ride, and means for moving said four shafts simultaneously linearly to contact said rails, said means comprising a flexible coupling secured to each of said shafts, a hinging fulcrum arm fitted within each coupling, stud shafts upon which each fulcrum-arm is supported to hinge under the stall floor, and a group of four elongates arms provided to swivel said fulcrums, by means of a pin one end of each arm being held to each fulcrum and by means of another pin the opposite end of each arm being held to a rotating disc, bevel gear teeth being provided upon the outer circumference of said disc, a bevel gear in mesh with said bevel teeth, a shaft upon which said bevel gear is held to rotate, the operation of said shaft rotating said bevel gear and respectively said disc to operate said elongated arms so as to slide said shafts in said slide bearings for the purpose intended.
 3. A storage means for storing a plurality of automobiles in rows one above another, comprising, in combination, a vertical storage structure of rectangular cross section, mechanical means in said structure for storing automobiles in individual rectangular stalls, said stalls having a floor and a ceiling , said mechanical means comprising a group of four endless chain drives mounted vertically with one chain drive adjacent to either one corner of said rectangular stalls, said chains moving upwardly to facilitate the lifting of each stall, another group of four vertical chain drives also provided moving downwardly to facilitate the lowering of each stall, means upon the ceiling and the floor of each stall for securing the stall to said moving link chains, and means of transferring each stall from one chain group moving upwardly to the other chain group moving downwardly, said first means comprising finger detents fulcrum-arm operable to secure said stalls to the moving chains, and said transfer means having flanged wheels to facilitate moving said stalls from the upwardly moving chain drive to the downwardly moving chain drive; and a means for operatively connecting the mechanism lowering each stall with the mechanism raising each stall, and for transfering each stall from one link chain group to the other, bevel gear mounted to rotate on the roof and under the floor of each stall, said means comprising a vertical shaft, said vertical shaft having means to rotate the bevel gear on the roof of each stall and the bevel gear under the floor of each stall, a bevel gear on either end of said vertical shaft, one bevel gear in said shaft meshing with the bevel gear on the roof and the other bevel gear meshing with the bevel gear under the floor of each stall, the rotation of said vertical shaft operating the shafts upon the roof and under the floor of each stall to hinge said finger detents and said flanged wheels respectively, in timed relationship tO one another. 